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Vatican Surgery of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung on Oct. 13. Surgeons used a video-assisted technique to remove the lower lobe of the lung during a 90-minute procedure. While the pope remained in the operating room for approximately three hours, doctors reported the surgery was successful and without complications.

An intraoperative examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in specialized glandular cells. The Vatican reported on Oct. 14 that the pope's recovery is on track, noting he has begun respiratory therapy, has walked around his hospital room, and is eating. Medical staff also conducted blood tests and a chest X-ray to monitor his progress.

The pope previously informed the faithful during the Angelus on Oct. 11 that a medical examination had identified a well-contained nodule at an early stage. Following the surgery, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis encouraged continued prayers for the pope and for those facing difficult medical diagnoses.

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 10:45 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  3. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  5. Oct 31, 10:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 9:55 AM PT · 12 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  8. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  9. Oct 31, 9:46 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm election
  10. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  11. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  12. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  13. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  14. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  15. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  16. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  17. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  18. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  20. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  22. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  23. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  24. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  25. Oct 31, 5:52 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV meets 7000 students

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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Earlier version, Friday 16 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery at Gemelli hospital

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung surgery at Rome hospital

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 1:39 PM ACI Prensa Español Al Papa León XIV le diagnosticaron cáncer de pulmón, informa el Vaticano
  2. Oct 14, 12:18 AM La Croix Français Santé du pape : qu’est-ce que l’adénocarcinome pulmonaire, le cancer dont souffre Léon XIV ?
  3. Oct 13, 1:19 PM Agência Ecclesia Português Leão XIV: Médicos confirmam diagnóstico de cancro do pulmão
  4. Oct 13, 2:05 PM Catholic New York Español Actualización: El papa León XIV le han diagnosticado cáncer de pulmón
  5. Oct 14, 5:55 AM America What to know about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis
  6. Oct 14, 8:20 AM Rome Reports Pope Leo XIV’s Lung Cancer: Will He Need Chemotherapy?
  7. Oct 14, 5:15 PM Catholic News Agency Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis
  8. Oct 14, 8:00 AM Catholic New York What’s a Lung Nodule? Medical Experts Explain Pope Leo’s Surgery
  9. Oct 14, 1:30 AM USCCB News Pope's recovery on track after lung cancer surgery, clergy praise his resolve
  10. Oct 14, 8:40 PM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Nicht nur Reiseprojekte betroffen / Wie die Krebserkrankung von Papst Leo XIV. Perspektiven verändert
  11. Oct 14, 5:15 PM Catholic World Report Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis
  12. Oct 14, 8:04 PM National Catholic Register Catholic Lung Cancer Specialists Weigh in On Pope Leo XIV’s Diagnosis
  13. Oct 14, 9:46 AM Aleteia Français Une prière, une lettre, une messe… Six façons de soutenir le Pape
  14. Oct 15, 12:00 AM Diocese of Treviso Italiano Papa Leone e la fragilità condivisa
  15. Oct 15, 10:40 AM Aleteia Español Una oración, una carta, una misa… Seis formas de apoyar al Papa
  16. Oct 14, 7:04 AM Diocese of Grand Rapids Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer; latest updates available from Vatican News
  17. Oct 14, 9:40 AM The Catholic Spirit Archbishop Hebda encourages prayers for Pope Leo, Bishop Kenney, all ‘with difficult diagnoses’
  18. Oct 14, 8:58 AM The Monitor Español ÚLTIMA HORA: La cirugía del Papa León XIV revela que tiene cáncer de pulmón
  19. Oct 14, 2:45 PM ACI Prensa Español Católicos de EE.UU. redoblan sus oraciones por la salud del Papa León XIV

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 10:45 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  3. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  5. Oct 31, 10:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 9:55 AM PT · 12 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  8. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  9. Oct 31, 9:46 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm election
  10. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  11. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  12. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  13. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  14. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  15. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  16. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  17. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  18. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  20. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  22. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  23. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  24. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  25. Oct 31, 5:52 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV meets 7000 students

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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